Engine-starter.



Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

R. J. MAOLAREN. I

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14, 1911.

I witnesses MW%W/fi Rune JMQQLQYGH 5 W %W' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUSSELL J. MAGLAREN, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIG-NOIB. 0F ONE-HALF TO JAY MAQLAREN, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

ENGINE-STARTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

Applicatflm filed January 14, 1911. Serial No. 602,710.

T 0 all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, RUSSELL J. MAoLAnEN, a citizen of the United States of.An1erica, residingat Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State'of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine-Starters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, ilIldoGXfiCt description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in means for starting internal combustion engines, and its 'obgect "is to provide means whereby when such an engine stops it will be charged with a mixture that will remain in proper condition for firing by the usual ignition means, whereby the engine may be readily started by igniting the said mixture; to provide a simple and reliable apparatus for the purpose and to provide the device with various new and useful features hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out 1n the claims reference bein had to the accompanylng drawings 1n Figure 1 represents "an engine with my said device applied thereto; Fig 2 an enlarged detail of the valve and mechanism connected therewith shown in closed position; and Fig. 3 the same shown in open position and partially in vertical section.

Like numbers refer to like parts in all of the figures.

It is well known that an internal combustion engine frequently stops with an unconsum'ed charge in one or more of the cylin-', ders, which charge if fired within a shorttiine by the usual spark mechanism will start the engine again. The usual running charges of gasolene' and air however, very quickly change to a condition in which they cannot be fired by any means. The compression is soon reduced and the gasolene soon condenses and separates from the air to such an extent that the charge is not combustible.

I have found that by supplying the engine with a mixture of some fixed combustible gas and air in proper proportion, that the same will remain in the engine for a long time in proper condition for ignition. and the engine may be started by firing this mix ture by the usual firing spark in the manner sometimes done by firing the usual running charges before they have had time to as name a non-combustible condition. I have also provided a device herein described, as

one form of a convenient means for supplying a fixed gas in proper quantity, and at the same time short-circuiting the electric firing mechanism to avoid firing the charges whereby the engine stops with a charge of combustible mixture therein containing a mixture of flxcdgas and air adapted to re main in the' engine in proper condition for firing for a long time.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents an internal combustion engine of any ordi-. nary type, that shown being a four cylinder, four cycle engine, such as commonly used in automobiles. I

2 represents the manifold' conveying the "charges of gasolene and air from the carbureter 3 to the various cylinders of the engine. I 1

4 represents any convenient tank to contain a fixed gas, the usual prestolite, so

' called, being convenient for the purpose.

9 is an insulated terminal in the path of the lever 8 and connected in the electric circuit of the spark mechanism in such manner that when the lever 8 is depressed to open the valve 5 (as shown in Fig. 3) the lever" 8 comes in contact with the terminal 9 and grounds the said circuit whereby the ignition spark in the engine is discontinued simultaneously with the opening of the valve A pipe 10 connects the tank 4 with one side of the valve 5 and a pipe 11 connects the other side of the said valve withwthe manifold 2 close above the carbureter.

-. 12 is a needle'valve suitably arranged to throttle the valve 5 and thus limit the flow of gas to the proper quantity to form a suitable combustible mixture in the engine.

In operation the engine is stopped by depressing the push rod '6 by placing the foot of the operator upon the button 6. This cutting out of the spark stops the engine which in the meantime will run a few strokes by the momentum of the fly wheel and take in some unburned charges. The

Ind

usual circuit closer commonly flow of gas from the tank t will supply a sufficient quantity of tired gas to the charges so that they will remain in the cylinders of the engine for a long time in proper condi-- tion for ignition by means of the usual spark ignition whenever oncasion arises to startthe engine. The spark heing produced as usual by shifting the ignition timer or b the suppliedywith tne ignition apparatus.

I 'am avvare that it is not new to start an internal combustion engine icy means oi the ignition spark When there is remaining in the cylinder of the same a combustiioie charge of the mixture used in running the engine. I anihowever not aware of any method. of supplying a fixed gas in proper proportion to the iast ifew charges taken in just before the engine stops whereby such charges will remain in the engine cylinder in roper condition to he ignited for an; in de nite period of time.

W hat I claim is 1. in combination with an internal coinbustion engine, a tank to contain a fixed gas under pressure, a pipe connecting said tank with the intake manifold of the engine, a valve to control the flow through said pipe, and means for simultaneously opening said valve and for cutting out thefiring mechanism of the en 'ine, whereby the engine stops With one or more charges therein con' taining' a quantity of fired gas, and means for firing said charges; to start the engine.

2. In combination with an internal cornbustion engine having an intake manifold and an electric ignition device, a tank to con tain a fixed gas under pressure, a pipe connecting the tank and the manifold, a. valve in the pipe to controi the How of there through, a lever te' ope'n end close the valve,

Wii he valve is opened to short circuit the apparatuaend an adjnsta e throt- ,tle'to limit the flow of gas throiwh J 8. in combination with ,en t hnstion engine having a man. voio, an an electric ignition device,'a tank to contain a fixed under pressure, a connecting ginc, and means for charges of fixed to in testimony Where in presence of two W each, by address? in n w.

an i ilated terminal contacted hythe lever the tank and manifold, a valve in the y, no to control the flow of t rethrrJng lever to open and-close the valve, a push rod to operate the iever, a spring the rod to close the valve, a throttie to limit new of gas through the naive and an iated 5 terminal engaged h lever n i the valve is 'o pen to gronio the ignition apparams.

i. iii a starting clev 1e combination With an internai comhns ion engine provided with a carbnreter i fixed suppiy'er through the cyiind ling valve for said fi e tion means forthe :35 engine, means for, 0" means on the stops opening said controi. t Led gas is drawn into one or more i the c inders to charge the same on 

